Fire Prevention Week Starts With A "“Beep, Beep Beep”

Fire Prevention Week 2010 runs this week from October 3 to 9, 2010 and is a good time to update your fire safety practices. Fire safety in the home is something everyone should take very seriously and spreading the message of importance of being fully prepared in the event of a real fire emergency.

A working smoke alarm is a critical element of home fire safety but knowing exactly what to do in the event of a real fire emergency is also crucial. All smoke alarms in the home should have replace their batteries at least once a year and is strongly recommend.

“Install. Inspect. Protect. Smoke alarms save live.” Only if they are properly installed, inspected, and tested on an monthly bases will smoke alarms work properly and correctly. Test monthly for the “Beep, Beep Beep” sound when the test button is pressed. If you don’t hear a beeping sound check your battery and replace with a new one if needed. If you still don’t hear the beeping sound after pressing the test button you may need to replace the whole smoke alarm with a new smoke alarm.

It is a FACT: If your smoke alarm was installed before October 1, 2000, it needs to be replaced with a new one.

Focus on Fire Safety: Smoke Alarms

WMV Version (33 Mb) | Order Broadcast Version | Transcript (txt)

Smoke alarms are a Smoke avery important means of preventing home fire fatalities by providing an early warning signal so you and your family can escape. According to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), an estimated 385,500 fires occur in residential buildings every year resulting in 2,770 civilian deaths and 13,250 injuries. When a smoke alarm sounds, it is time for you to spring into action.

You can prevent tragedy simply by testing and maintaining your smoke alarms and practicing a fire escape plan. Make sure your home fire escape plan is up to date and everyone in the home knows what to do when the smoke alarm sounds. Practice your plan often.

The theme for this year's Fire Prevention Week, October 3 – 9, is Smoke Alarms: A Sound You Can Live With.

USFA encourages you to practice fire safety and to do your part to get out, before firefighters have to come in. For more information on smoke alarms, residential fire sprinklers, and escape planning, visit our Install. Inspect. Protect. fire safety campaign page.

(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; this is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)